Chapter 17

As Kai drifted deeper into sleep, he found himself immersed in a vivid recollection from his childhood.

In the dream, he was a young boy, surrounded by the warmth of his family's love. It was his birthday, a day filled with joy and celebration. In the midst of all the excitement, he remembered the tender gestures of his parents.

"Happy birthday, baby," his mother whispered, her voice overflowing with affection as she tucked him into bed.

And then, his father's voice, deep and reassuring, echoed in the room, "Happy birthday, my son," he said, his hand resting gently on Kai's shoulder.

In that moment, Kai felt enveloped in a sense of belonging and security, wrapped in the love of his parents. However, it was just his dream that will never came true.

As young Kai awoke, he was greeted by lavish gifts from his parents, a substitute for their absence on his birthday. Today was meant to be special, yet the one person he yearned for the most was absent once again. On his birthday, he found himself alone, surrounded only by the extravagant presents left by his mother and father, who had departed without a farewell.

Tears welled in his eyes and trickled down his cheeks as he grappled with his emotions. Hours passed with Kai immersed in his solitude. This was the pattern of his past birthdays – always alone, with parents physically present but emotionally distant. His heart ached for the days when he was just five years old, when his parents were by his side. He longed for the laughter they shared and the comfort of his mother's playful antics. But those memories had faded into the past, unreachable and fleeting.

After hours of tears, Kai's sorrow began to subside. He emerged from his room to find their housemaid bustling about, preparing for his birthday celebration with a cheerful demeanor. Despite her efforts, he couldn't shake off his melancholy. Silently, he slipped out of the house while everyone was preoccupied. With determined steps, he made his way to the park on the outskirts of the village.

"When will they prioritize me? Both of them cared only for their business. Is that more important than their own son?" the child lamented.

He entered the barrel and sulked there. Many questions flooded the young child's mind, "Do they love me?", "Do I have parents?", "Am I invisible to them?" and many more, until he cried because he couldn't find answers to his own questions. He wept incessantly until he was interrupted by the voice of a girl.

"Bakit ka umiiyak? (Why are you crying?)"

Young Kai furrowed his brow at the girl's question.

"Huh?"

"Sabi ko, “Bakit ka umiiyak?” bingi ka ba? (I said, 'Why are you crying?' Are you deaf?)" the girl asked.

"Sorry but I can’t understand you," he replied, still confused by what the girl meant to say.

"Patay! Alien! (Shoot! Alien!)" the girl exclaimed, slapping her forehead.

"What?" young Kai asked, confused.

" Paano ba ‘to? Hmm… Ah! Why you cry? Teka tama ba? Basta ‘yon na ‘yon! (How do I do this? Hmm... Ah! Why you cry? Is that right? Well, close enough!)"

"Nothing," he replied shortly.

" Anong nothing nothing ka d’yan? Iiyak ka ba ng walang dahilan? (What do you mean 'nothing'? Are you crying for no reason?)"

"Huh?"

" Ano ba ‘yan, ang hirap naman makipag-usap sa alien nakakabobo! (Ugh, it's so hard to talk to an alien, it's making me dumb!)" the girl expressed in frustration. She just scratched her head, finding it difficult to converse with him.

The young girl refrained from posing any more questions. Instead, she extended her handkerchief to young Kai, prompting him to turn towards her.

"Don't cry, you'll look ugly. Your handsome face will go to waste," the young girl struggled to articulate in English.

Young Kai's sorrow dissipated at her words, replaced by a burst of laughter. The young girl continued to chatter, her broken English only adding to the charm of her attempts. Despite the language barrier, she managed to entertain young Kai with her simple yet endearing anecdotes. Her efforts brought a sense of warmth and joy to young Kai's heart, momentarily lifting the weight of his loneliness.

As they conversed, young Kai found himself immersed in a world of laughter and companionship. Despite the difficulties in communication, the young girl's unwavering patience and genuine efforts to connect touched young Kai deeply. He felt a sense of belonging in her presence, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, oblivious to the passage of time, until the fading light of dusk drew their attention to the encroaching darkness. Despite the inevitable end to their encounter, young Kai couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected companionship he found in the young girl, turning what started as a lonely birthday into a moment of genuine connection and happiness.

"We should probably head home now. It's getting dark, and it's not safe for you to stay out late," Kai suggested to the young girl.

"Hindi ko masyadong naintindihan lahat pero alam ko sabi mo uwi na ako kaya, okay, I go home you go too. (Although I didn't understand everything, I got that you said I should go home, so, okay, I'll go home, and you should too)," the young girl replied, eliciting another chuckle from Kai at her playful response.

"Thank you," Kai expressed gratefully.

"You're welcome," the young girl replied, her smile widening. “Pero teka, para saan ‘yong thank you?” (But wait, what's the thank you for?)" she asked, intrigued.

"Thank you for making my birthday not a complete mess. Somehow, it feels worth remembering after meeting you," Kai explained with a warm smile.

"Ano ba ‘yan! Ang hirap mo kausapin alien, pero narinig ko sinabi mo birthday mo ngayon? Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi? (Oh, come on! You're such a tough nut to crack, alien. But wait, I heard you say it's your birthday today? Why are you only mentioning it now?)" the young girl exclaimed, her eyes widening with genuine interest.

"I thought it wouldn't get any better, but I was clearly mistaken. I'm sorry," Kai apologized to the young girl.

"Ba’t ka—  ay ano ba! Don’t sorry me. You should be happy today! ‘Wag sad! (Why are you—oh, never mind! Don't apologize to me. You should be happy today! Don't be sad!)" the young girl corrected Kai.

"I'm already happy, thanks to you," Kai replied, his smile reflecting his genuine gratitude.

"No! You won't feel happy if I don't sing this!" The young girl took a deep breath and then sang loudly.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!" she sang with enthusiasm, bringing forth a unique joy in him.

"Hooray! Happy birthday!" he greeted her again. For some unknown reason, he hugged the young girl tightly, feeling a rush of warmth and comfort in her embrace.

"Thank you! Thank you for making me happy. I promise when we grow up I'll marry you," he said to the young girl, his voice filled with sincerity and gratitude.

"Ha? Marry me? Papakasalan mo ko? (What? Marry me? You'll marry me?)" the young girl asked in surprise, her eyes widening in disbelief. Kai gently released her from the hug and looked directly into her eyes.

"Yes," he replied softly, a hint of determination in his tone.

The young girl's initial shock turned into a wide-eyed wonder, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected declaration.

" Really? Seryoso ka? (Really? Are you serious?)" she asked Kai, her voice trembling with excitement and disbelief.

"Yes. You don't want to?" Kai asked, a touch of uncertainty creeping into his voice.

"No! I mean, yes! I want to marry you! Aarte pa ba ako sa isang g’wapong katulad mo? (No! I mean, yes! I want to marry you! Would I even hesitate with a handsome guy like you?)" the young girl exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and joy.

"Promise me, you will be my wife when we grow up," Kai implored, his eyes shining with hope and longing.

"Promise!" And with that, the two children intertwined their pinky fingers, sealing their vow with a heartfelt promise. After sharing a tender moment, they reluctantly parted ways, their hearts filled with the anticipation of a future together.

As Kai walked home, a radiant smile graced his face, his heart brimming with happiness and newfound hope. He couldn't shake off the feeling of contentment that enveloped him, knowing that he had found a special connection with the young girl and a promise of companionship that would last a lifetime.